Before the war, when the gates of Lloyd’s had closed, the only sign of life consisted of a few clerks and printers producing the shipping intelligence. War brought about a metamorphosis which completely transformed the basement areas. Dormitories for the A.R.P. services were arranged in the shelters, and except during air raids, sleeping in offices was permitted. When bombing commenced, the numbers were increased by many whose homes had been destroyed or whose families had been evacuated.
The Friends' Ambulance Unit, whose primary work was the relief of suffering among the civil population on the battlefields abroad, turned their attention to the relief of the poor people of London. The F.A.U. conceived the idea that use might be made of large city buildings at night by people from the East End and elsewhere, and Lloyd's was approached to lead this scheme.
From October 1940 to May 1941, an average of 170 people were provided with shelter from the bombing and the appalling conditions surrounding their own home.
Many distinguished visitors looked in during the raids to see how this model shelter was run. Among them was Mrs Winston Churchill, the daughter of a former secretary of Lloyd's. Mrs Churchill greatly amused the shelterers when she noticed a picture of her husband, cut out of a newspaper and stuck on the wall, above the caption : “All babies are like Mr Churchill,” and exclaimed that it should have read : “Mr Churchill is like all babies.”
The Committee of Lloyd’s came to an arrangement with the City Corporation whereby, in the event of the main A.R.P. control centre at the Guildhall being put out of action, a part of Lloyd’s shelter would be available as a reserve, and this was fitted with the necessary telephones and other equipment. When the Guildhall was burnt and the central control room destroyed, the headquarters of the City’s A.R.P. organisation were transferred to Lloyd’s, where they remained for several months. It was during this period that the Committee were privileged to offer the Lord Mayor the hospitality of their shelters for his household staff.
Just before Christmas, the shelterers were greatly thrilled by a B.B.C. request to broadcast from the shelter the “In Town To-night” programme. Members of the Shelterers' Committee were invited to tell the world about their temporary home and their plans for the festive season, which incidentally included rehearsals for a Christmas pantomime.
This night life brought about an incident which is unique in Lloyd’s history. Permission from the Chairman was obtained by the Fire Squad on duty on New Year’s Eve, 1940, to herald in the New Year by ringing the Lutine Bell. At midnight a company of about 50 men assembled by the rostrum and heard the famous bell announce the safe “arrival” of 1941. 